Page 58 of Surprised By Love

Without warning, she gets up on her tiptoes and plants a quick kiss on my lips. “Thank you so much for this.”

I grab her by the waist and hold her close. “You’re welcome. I’m glad you’re happy coming to this cinema and not upset that I didn’t take you to Pineridge Falls.”

“No, I love this cinema. I can’t wait to bring Amelia here. She’s never been to a cinema like this before.”

The lights dim and I hold out my arm for her to go ahead of me into the back row. I feel like I’m in high school taking my girlfriend to the movies, sitting in the back so we can make out. Not that we are going to make out like teenagers, but I’d like to sit in the back where you have more privacy, just in case. I don’t enjoy having my back to people, a habit of the job.

It’s like Sam read my mind. “Are we sitting in the back so we can make out?” She laughs as I stop at the row against the back wall.

“It wasn’t my intention, but I won’t say no if you’re up to it.” I wink.

We share popcorn and Sam feeds me some. The temptation is strong to take her finger and suck off the extra butter she enjoys on her popcorn, but it might be too much too soon. So I behave myself as much as I can.

We share a few chaste kisses, but nothing more than a PG rating. As much as I would love to devour her mouth right here, right now, I can just imagine the gossip in town if we’re caught making out in the back of the auditorium.

When neither of us reach for any more popcorn, I place it on the floor and Sam snuggles into me. I can’t take my eyes off her. That’s when I forget I’m even watching a movie.

Her head is on my shoulder with my arm wrapped around hers. The smell of her coconut shampoo fills my senses and the way her body vibrates when she laughs. Will be forever embedded in my mind.

I pull her nice and close and she comes without hesitation. I call that a win. She feels so good in my arms. Disappointment hits when the movie ends. I could have stayed like this for days.

I don’t want to leave. I want to stay there with Sam in my arms. Reluctantly, we get up and take our garbage to the trash bins. I take Sam’s hand in mine as we make our way to my SUV.

Part three is also a surprise. One I hope she enjoys. I’m sure with her growing up in this town; she knows about the spot I’m about to take her to. I hope if it holds any bad memories I can change that and we can make new good ones instead.

As I drive up the back hills of Sunset Creek, Sam sits up straighter. “Where are we going?” She looks around as if noticing for the first time where we are.

“Do I have to tell you, or do you know?”

She laughs. “Are you taking me up to Lookout Point?”

I look at her and raise an eyebrow. “You know about Lookout Point?”

She laughs again, this time harder, and she snorts. “Oh, my God. I can’t believe I did that.” She covers her face with her hands.

I pull her hands down with one of mine. “Don’t hide, it was adorable.” I look at her. “You are adorable.”

She giggles. “I bet you say that to all the girls.”

“Nah, only you.”

She grabs my hand and laces her fingers through mine, giving it a squeeze.

A smile spreads across my face as I watch the road cautiously. We are getting to a tight curve in the road, but I can sense her staring at me. I hope I didn’t say too much. Her hand is still in mine, so I take it as a good sign.

There’s something about Sam. When I’m with her, I say what’s on my mind and don’t hold back. It’s like I trust her to be real with me and I don’t have to be fake with her. I like where this is going and I hope she likes what I have in mind next.

We pull into the parking lot at Lookout Point, and there is not a car in sight.Perfect. It’s just us.I park the SUV but leave the heat on. It’s usually colder up on the mountain.

I look over at Sam, and she has this enormous smile on her face. “I take it you like the view?”

She nods. “It’s so beautiful up here. I almost forgot how picturesque it was.”

I look out at the sky peppered with stars and below it is the small town we love. You can see everywhere in Sunset Creek from up here. The houses look so tiny, the shops on Main street are still lit up with shoppers.

You can see a clear view of the town square and the park. Off to the right you can see the falls, the pine and maple trees surrounding the creek and pond. “It’s one of my favourite places.”

“Mine too. I never got up here often. When I started dating Derek, he wouldn’t come up here. He said it was pathetic to come up to a spot to make out. I didn’t care about making out. I wanted to see the view. It’s so pretty in the fall when the leaves are turning colours and in the winter when the snow covers the town and the Christmas lights are out. It seems so magical.”

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